Cuomo Pressured From The Left (Updated)

Forty-two local Democratic officials sent Gov. Andrew Cuomo a letter today questioning his “New Democrat” agenda and calling for him to end his opposition to extending the so-called millionaire’s tax.

The signers, led by NYC Councilman Robert Jackson (an original CFE lawsuit plaintiff who headed a protest against Cuomo’s education aid cuts last Saturday during caucus weekend), says some of the the governor’s budget policies are “neither balanced nor well conceived.”

The letter takes issue with Cuomo’s deep health care and education spending cuts while giving wealthy New Yorkers a “massive tax break” by allowing the temporary three-year PIT increase to expire on schedule at the end of this year.

“According to the Governor, this is what it means to be a ‘new Democrat,’” the local electeds wrote. “According to the Governor, this is the path to becoming ‘the most progressive state in the nation.’”

“If this is what it means to be a New Democrat, and if this is what it means to be progressive then something is very wrong.We cannot be silent on this matter – not when the Tea Party, the Conservative Party, Republicans and a group of wealthy Wall Street executives are cheering the Governor’s policies.”

“Of course, as we want the new Governor to succeed, we also recognize our duty and obligationto remember what our party has always stood for: fiscal responsibility, fairness, compassion and vision. We have a duty and a responsibility to speak now.”

There isn’t a single state lawmaker among the signatories of this letter.

There are a few Albany Common Council members, a number of NYC Council members, a smattering of upstate electeds including Joel Tyner, the little-known Dutchess County legislator who tried to petition his way into a primary challenge against the governor last fall and failed to gather enough legal signatures to get onto the ballot.

UPDATE: A reader notes eight of the 15 Albany Common Council members signed on to this letter, including the president, which is more than half. I understated that. Sorry.